McGregor-Aitkin-Crosby-Deerwood Area fishing reports

[Jethro80]

Are they cheap?? I have a cabin on the lake so I never know what they charge but I have always heard they charge a lot for their cabins. I guess people stay there or camp.

$130 a night for one of the cabins and I believe its the cheapest one.

[jwhit]

aitkin lakes are hot hot hot... just throw a white spinnerbait and hang on. jon

[palisade1kid]

The Walleye bite is hot……

Hot …no not the weather….yes summer is here …finally and with it the heat,

But I’m talking about the walleye bite.

I’ve been in contact with Tim at Captain Hook’s Launch service on Mille Lacs

and the bite is going on in any depth between 7 & 30 feet of water on

crawlers, leeches or minnows.

Larry’s Service and Bait out of Floodwood says Prairie Lake is really going

good.

Those marble eyes are hitting all the way up to 3 feet of water. Nothing big

,but good eaters.

The BP in moose Lake reports that Sand Lake has a great pannie bite and

Willey’s in McGregor say’s that the walleye action on Big Sandy and

Minnewawa is picking up with some better sized eyes being caught.

Paul Walters bagged a decent 5 pounder right off his dock.

My own experience says that the doldrums of the spawn are over and those pig

female eyes are hitting big baits.

The lakes in the Palisade area are also doing well. Which lake…pick one , if

it’s got eyes in it they are biting.

I am catching them in 8 to 12 feet of water trolling sassy shads on ¼ oz

jigs at 1.5 mph.

I know that big shiners out in deeper water trolled at .5 mph on a lindy rig

is also bagging big eyes.

Another place to target are those cabbage beds on the deeper sides…say 8-10

feet of water with slip bobbers and leeches.

Talking about hot….are you ready to get blown up?

Blown up as in working top water baits for bass. Those weed beds are formed

and with this hot weather warming the water , the bass are holding up in the

coontail beds.

This is the time of year that is a blast for walking the dog with a zara

spook or bustin pads with a scumfrog. Hula poppers and jitter bugs by

Arborgast are also a favorite to lure a lunker bass out to play.

My favorite though is working the weed beds with buzz baits. These baits

make a ton of noise, vibration and major commotion on the waters surface

that draws those big bucketmouths out for a summertime blow up. When they

hit ..it’s so visual.

Be ready for big pike too.

I like a medium action 6’6” or a 7 foot rod with a bait caster that has the

ability to do a fast retrieve.

What a way to spend an evening after work…on the lake ,cooling down and

having a fight with a big bass or pike. BOOYA!

Moving on to the pannies….

Most lakes have the gills just finishing their spawning activities.

They have been easy targets and you’ll find those bigger breeders in shallow

just off the wild rice which is in it’s lay down phase. They may still be

guarding their beds.

I’m asking that we release those bigger bulls over 8”.

It takes a long time for them to reach this size and anyone that chases

gills knows full well that to hit 9-12 inch gills is truly a treat. Taking

them will only void out that quality fishery.

If you want to show them off have a camera with you and take a few photos

before releasing them.

I’ve been catching these bigger guys and to say exactly where I found them

would be the death to this fishery.

I hate to say it, but there are too many people that just can’t let them go.

It is truly a crying shame.

There’s nothing wrong with culling out a limit. If you have a fishing

license it is legal to take your limit of monsters, but is it ethical. There

is a difference.

This is a subject that really needs a full page or 2 to fully discuss but in

the end. The fishery will sustain itself if we fishermen and women make the

right choice on what to take to eat.

It can be easy when the bite is hot to take all we can take ,but then when

they are gone who is to blame?

It’s not going to be easy to just move to another lake to find those same

quality fish…that lake was hit hard too.

The good news is that we do have a great fishery here in the area and it

will stay that way if we make the ethical choice.

Let’s take a kid fishing this year and get him or her hooked…make a

difference in the child’s life.

Don’t forget your elders either. They may move a bit slower ,but they still

love being on the water and maybe catch a fish of a lifetime.

I had my Dad out on those bulls last week and he caught the biggest gill

ever in his 70 some years of fishing….then he gave it a smooch and let it

go….yes I got the pics!

Have a safe July 4th holiday weekend!

See ya on the water!

God Bless,

CK

[UdeLakeTom]

Nice report.

[metrofisher7]

Clap Clap Clap...awesome report and you are exactly right about taking the ethical size of fish not the leagl limit.

[palisade1kid]

My boat has taken exactly 2 gills out of the last 100 caught.

My dad wanted to take home a couple so I caved.

There will be a great fishery building as many have averaged 8-10 inches with a couple over the 10 mark.

[northernsarefun]

great crappie fishing on gun lake. they were all 10 inch+ and were focused on the weed lines. took home a few slabbers. great weekend!!!

[David Bloom]

hey guys, heading up to Wright this weekend was going to try my luck on Prairie Lake or Eagle just wondering if anybody has had any luck lately?

[huerta17]

Went out 12/26/2009 on Minnewawa, 18 FOW. Didnt get out till about 5:00 due to vehicle trouble on the trip up and missed the best of the bite. Things were fast and furious for first hour or so, then had to work them. Caught about 50-60, most of which were in the first two hours. Kept some for the pan, but threw most back.

[walleyes4me]

I missed what kind of fish were you catching? Crappies?

[dakasper]

How has the fishing been this winter for everybody? any recent reports from the Aitkin/McGregor area?

[dakasper]

slooooooooooooooowwwwwwww!

[palisade1kid]

Hardley!

[bsl..master]

Sloooooooww for everyone. Terrible year for fishing.

[CrappieAttack]

slooooooooooooooowwwwwwww!

I don't know where you're fishing, but BSL produces. There are tons of little lakes around that area.

I fish BSL last weekend for a little shy of two hours on the lake and caught 10 Tullibees all (but one) over 2 pounds! I wouldn't call that slow. I'll have a report for you, I'm heading out tomorrow.

[tjz123]

I'm planning on fishing Sunday and Monday. What general area of BSL are you fishing? Water depths? Best place to access lake? Are ice conditions ok for a 4WD truck?

Thanks

[gunmunky]

I'm going to try and head up around the Aitkin area next week. How deep is the snow on the lakes? I have a 2wd ATV and I am wondering if I will have a hard time getting around. Any info is greatly appreciated before I decide on driving 100 miles each way! Thanks!

[BucksnDucks]

I would strongly suggest at the very least you purchase a set of atv chains on your way up if you havent done so already for your 2wd. Either that or dont plan on spending anytime off of beatn tracks. The snow is quite deep around this area.

[palisade1kid]

Snow should receede with this warmer weather....there's roads all over so you should be good unless you want to strike out on your own then chains would be a good thing.

[gunmunky]

Thanks for the info! I do have chains. Hopefully the boss will allow me to take off for a day.

Thanks again, I really appriciate the info!

[palisade1kid]

She's getting slushy out there in the afternoons....

[FutbolGuru]

Heading up this weekend. How's driving away from roads & tracks w/ 4x4? If bad, then BSL it is... If it's do-able, then I'll plan on hitting the honey hole.

There's 3 of us and we always bring shovels, but if I can avoid having to use them.... great lol.

[palisade1kid]

You should be alright.

[wildmanp]

ck,

any lakes in the mcgregor/atkin area for night panfish fishing? I'm looking to be pointed in the right direction and PLEAASE not with the middle finger! I'm not looking for cords.!

[palisade1kid]

Minewawa has a night bite...hit the narrows.

[palisade1kid]

You got a week left if ya can still get on the lake.

I know a few guys that have gone through.She's pretty iffy in spots.

[palisade1kid]

Water temps are hovering around 50-55 degrees which means the crappie bite has started. Nothing real shallow yet but 8-10 f.o.w. is a good place to start looking.It won't be long with these warmer temps... we will be looking for them them to slide right up tight to the feeding and bedding areas.

I can say no females yet ,but the males are showing themselves....a few sumo perch have also been caught along the way.

The weather was great for fishing this weekend.

[palisade1kid]

The waters are warming up guys!

[Heartman]

Keith, would you mind sending me an email? I have a question for you.

Thanks. [email protected]

[palisade1kid]

Email sent...

The water is just about to the point that these fish will be really moving in.

...however it was a chilly start!